David Johnston

Throne speech: New tone, tax cut and a turning point for First Nations

The Liberal government has promised a new tone for Parliament and set out an “ambitious” agenda that includes delivering tax cuts for the middle class, a renewed commitment to peacekeeping and a new health agreement with the provinces.

Today’s 15-minute speech from the throne, titled “Making Real Change Happen,” was delivered in the Senate chamber by Gov. Gen. David Johnston. It presented in broad strokes the government’s plans and priorities for the 42nd Parliament.

Wednesday October 21, 2015

As an “immediate priority,” the government will deliver a tax cut “for the middle class.”

“This is the fair thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada’s economy,” Johnston read from the speech.

The address also promised a better future for Canada by being “smart and caring on a scale as never before.”

“The times we live in demand nothing less,” Johnston read.

The government is also promising to renew, nation-to-nation, the relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples, based on “recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.”

To that end, the throne speech committed to improve education for First Nations children, to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and to implement recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The throne speech also promised to usher in a new tone for Parliament, which has been characterized by partisan bickering in recent years.

“In this Parliament, all members will be honoured, respected and heard, wherever they sit,” Johnston said. “For here, in these chambers, the voices of all Canadians matter.” (Source: CBC News)

Dancing and Governor-Generalling

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is reiterating his openness to a possible coalition with the Liberals if it is necessary to topple Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

While expressing confidence he will become prime minister with a majority government, Mulcair told reporters Tuesday the scenario of a minority government cannot be excluded and that turfing the Tories is imperative.

The Opposition leader accused his Liberal counterpart, Justin Trudeau, of putting personal interests ahead of those of Canadians.

Trudeau has repeatedly stated he’s not interested in discussing coalitions.

“Whenever we have opened that door, Justin Trudeau slams it shut,” Mulcair said in Montreal. “My first priority is to get rid of Stephen Harper. The first priority of Justin Trudeau is Justin Trudeau.” (Source: Toronto Star)

The NDP leader said this year’s election should be a three-way battle from the outset, paving the way for a social democratic government.Meanwhile, David Johnston will serve as Governor General for another two years, ensuring he’s around for the coming fall election and Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2017.

Serving out the extension would put Johnston, 73, among the ranks of George Vanier, Vincent Massey and Roland Michener as one of the longest-serving Canadian governors general.

In making the announcement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday that Johnston had accepted the offer to remain in office until September, 2017, a period that will cover many of the events that year to mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

But the extension also ensures Johnston is around for a key event this year — the expected federal election this October, which could produce a minority government.

Observers had been expecting Johnston’s term to be extended to ensure his constitutional expertise was on hand should it be needed in the aftermath of the vote. (Source: Toronto Star)

The disgraced Senate will serve as a backdrop for next week’s throne speech and is bound to dominate debate during the fall sitting of Parliament.

Yet there’ll be scant mention of the scandal-plagued Senate in the speech, which is to be read Wednesday by Governor General David Johnston from a regal throne in the ornate upper chamber.

Insiders say Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has concluded it can do little to clean up the unelected Senate until the Supreme Court rules on the constitutional requirements for reforming or abolishing the chamber, which could take a year or more.

Hence, any kind of reform to the upper house has been put on hold — including purely administrative measures, which would be entirely within the government’s purview to implement, such as requiring senators to publicly disclose details of their expenses.

The throne speech’s expected silence on the subject comes amid an ongoing Senate expenses scandal that has mushroomed over the past year and shows no sign of going away any time soon.

The RCMP is investigating allegedly fraudulent living and travel expenses claimed by four senators — former Conservative caucus members Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin and former Liberal Mac Harb.

Duffy is also under the Mounties’ microscope for accepting $90,000 from Harper’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, in order to reimburse the Senate for his dubious expense claims. (Source: National Post)

The demonizing and destabilization of Shawn Atleo

As he rode to a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper last Friday, Shawn Atleo’s Blackberry buzzed.

“Since you have decided to betray me, all I ask of you now is to help carry my cold dead body off this island,’’ the text message said.

It was sent in the name of Chief Theresa Spence, but those who saw the text believe it came from someone else in her circle on Victoria Island.

But they were certain about one thing — the timing, moments before he went into one of the most important meetings of his life, was meant to destabilize the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and undermine his efforts at a meeting which many in his organization fiercely opposed.

The missive distilled two vicious strains coursing through the internal fighting at the AFN — the threats and intimidation under which its leadership is functioning, and the growing sense from some that the Attawapiskat chief, now entering day 38 of a liquid diet with the temperature dipping to -27C here, is being used as a pawn in an internal political struggle.

To attend last week’s meeting Atleo already had to leave his Ottawa office from a back door to get out of a building with angry chiefs trying to blockade him inside.

He would have to enter the Langevin Block for the meeting through a back door for the same reason.

There have been no shortage of charges, countercharges and denials within the organization over the past weeks and the truth in this saga is often elusive. (Source: Toronto Star)